Creative people in Auckland need to be aware of the Spatial Plan as it provides them with the opportunity for informed input into the direction their own arts community takes.

However, it is not only Aucklanders who need to be aware of this plan; those outside Auckland should follow the process because this could be the shape of their own future should the ‘Supercity’ model be appropriated throughout New Zealand.

Download the pdf here: (1.5mg)

Auckland Cabinet Spatial Plan

Want to know something the Government doesn’t want you to know?  National is quietly reneging on its 2008 election promise to maintain a successful business training scheme for people on the dole.  How surprising: one would think they would champion a scheme that is proven to turn beneficiaries into business owners, creating jobs for themselves and potentially others.  Particularly in a time of high unemployment.

Could the problem be that the scheme in question, Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment (Pace), is aimed at the creative industries?  That for all our celebrated film and fashion success, creative businesses are still not taken seriously as money earners by the Government?  No, that can’t be right’ John Key would have turned away Warner Bros quick smart if so.

Let us be clear here: Pace is not designed to support painters starving in garrets while they turn out what might be their masterpieces.  Instead people including experienced web designers, graphic artists, curators, musicians, actors, film editors, advertising creatives and, yes, even journalists, attend several intensive fulltime business planning courses during the time they are assigned to the scheme (now six months, whittled down from a year).  Over the past year, Pace participants in Auckland have found work as television production assistants, freelance clothing designers, camera operators, industrial product developers and so on.

Yet, according to Minister for Social Development Paula Bennett, Pace participants are “turning down available work to follow an artistic dream” and “now is not the time” to be doing that.  I’ve never heard journalism called an “artistic dream” before, so I’m chuffed.  Cheers, Paula!

School leavers, take note:  the Government doesn’t want you applying for any of its funded design or writing courses, let alone its performance or art schools.  Those things only foster artistic dreams – read: unrealistic luxuries.  Skip those three to six years of tertiary study and go directly to your local supermarket applying for “available work” instead.

For – and again, I quote reports of Ms Bennett – people on “welfare” should “get a job – any job – because that’s the first step to a better job”

Is house cleaning the first step to a solicitor’s practice for an unemployed lawyer?  As Jacinda Ardern, Labour’s spokeswoman for employment points out, “It will be a waste for everyone if someone with skills ends up in an unskilled job that someone else might need.”

Pace participants work in a large sector, a sector which NZ Trade and Enterprise still lists as a “growth” industry, and where freelancing is often the norm.

With a few business skills, the potential for self-employment is enormous.

A musician on Pace might be encouraged to teach guitar while the client base for their recording studio builds up: an actor might decide to look for regular singing gigs in between television work.

Pace doesn’t suit all artists – some are happier with part-time jobs which are completely different from the art practice, harbouring their creative energies for their own visions, not their clients’.

The scheme’s goals are not artistic but economic:  participants are taught how to identify, market and exploit money=making potential within their creative skill sets.  But, like a good employee being performance-managed out of a job because secretly her manager doesn’t like her mismatched earrings, time is running out for Pace.  According to media reports, Pace courses could once be found in 13 centres, but are now only offered in Auckland, Hamilton and Dunedin.

The scheme started in 2001; two years later, it had 2027 members and 1200 former participants were working in the creative industries.

Last September, participant numbers had dwindled to 376.  But while participants have decreased by over 80 per cent, the scheme’s cost has decreased by only 40 per cent, from 1.1 million in 2003 to a projected $660,000 this year.  Thus, the scheme gives far less value for money now than before the Government’s deliberate neglect.

Pace is now under review.  No doubt the numbers above will be used to attack the scheme itself, rather than its current management.

Creative People’s Centre  encourages discussion and debate on arts issues.  Please contact us with your response to this article, further information on this topic or on other NZ arts & culture related issues by using our contact form here or by leaving a comment.

MEET THE CANDIDATES STANDING AS COUNCILLORS FOR YOUR NORTH SHORE WARD AND AS DEVONPORT-TAKAPUNA LOCAL BOARD MEMBERS.

Your opportunity to hear the candidates address local concerns.

7-9.30pm Wednesday, 29 September
Devonport Community House
32 Clarence St
DEVONPORT

Whether as a candidate, supporting a candidate or by voting, you have the opportunity to take an active role in choosing the representatives who will help shape Auckland’s future.

One unitary council, one mayor, 20 councillors representing 13 wards, 149 local board members representing 21 local board areas:  by taking part in these elections, you can make a difference for yourself and your community.

The elections timetable is:

23 July
Nominations for candidates open
Electoral rolls open for inspection

20 August
Nominations close (noon), roll closes

25 August
Candidates’ names publicised
Public notification of the day of election

17 -22 September
Voting documents are delivered

17 September – 9 October
Progressive roll scrutiny
Special voting period
Early processing of returned votes

9 October
Election day. Voting closes at noon and counting starts

14 – 20 October
Results are declared and publicly notified

The Arts Council is responsible for overall policy development for Creative New Zealand, which operates at arm’s length from government in encouraging, promoting and supporting the arts in New Zealand.

“I appreciate that Alastair Carruthers has agreed to remain as chair of the council during a time of proposed legislative change to the governance structure of Creative New Zealand,” Mr Finlayson said. “I am also delighted that Creative New Zealand will have the considerable talents of Professor Davidson, who has been one of our leading academics. Professor Davidson replaces actor and writer Oscar Kightley, whom I thank for his contribution as a council member”.

Alastair Carruthers is the Chief Executive of a major New Zealand law firm, Chapman Tripp Barristers and Solicitors, based in Wellington and Auckland.   He has strategic business skills and experience in musical performance and governance.   He is a former trustee of the New Zealand String Quartet Trust and   was appointed as chair of the Arts Council in 2007.

Emeritus Professor Dr John Davidson, was until recently, Head of School, Art History, Classic and Religious Studies at Victoria University Wellington.  He has had a long career in academic work and research. Professor Davidson is a member of a number of professional organisations including being President of the Australasian Society of Classical Studies.

Artist and advocate Anne Rush and the former chair of the Whitirea Community Law Centre Jocelyn Afford have been appointed as members of the Creative New Zealand Arts Board, and current chair of the board Alan Sorrell has been re-appointed, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The Arts Board is responsible for encouraging, promoting, and supporting the development of the arts in New Zealand, including those of the Pacific Islands’ peoples and the diverse cultures of New Zealand through the allocation of funding to artists, arts organisations and arts projects.

“I welcome Jocelyn Afford to the Arts Board where her extensive arts interests and previous experience as a Radio New Zealand Board member will be particularly welcome at a time of proposed legislative change,” Mr Finlayson said. “I am pleased also that Alan Sorrell has agreed to reappointment as chair and that Anne Rush has accepted a joint appointment to both the Arts Board and the Arts Council of Creative New Zealand.”

Jocelyn Afford of Wellington has a wide range of legal experience and most recently was responsible for the financial management of a barrister’s practice and of a property company. She has extensive arts interests and governance experience, having previously been a Radio New Zealand board member and secretary of the New Zealand Apple and Pear Board’s regulatory authority.

Anne Rush has extensive experience as an advocate, in the preparation and presentation of concept papers to trustees, conferences, seminars, Government (including caucus) select committees, local government forums, and annual and strategic plans in both their oral and written forms. She is co-founder of the Nelson Bays Arts Marketing Network.  She has been a member of the Creative New Zealand Arts Council since 2009.

Alan Sorrell has legal skills as a barrister specialising in commercial litigation, intellectual property, copyright, media and entertainment fields, and contractual disputes. His background is as a very experienced public and private sector governor.  Mr Sorrell was a member of the New Zealand Film Commission Board from 1993 – 2002 during which time he was the chair from 1996 – 2002.  He became the chair of the Creative New Zealand Arts Board in 2007.

The Government introduced the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Bill into Parliament last month. It is intended to streamline Creative New Zealand’s four governing bodies – including the Arts Board – into a single board to reduce complexity and improve its effectiveness.

(from Media Statement: Hon Christopher Finlayson, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage)

Aucklanders are being urged to take the first step to getting ready for the Auckland Council and district health board elections by ensuring they are correctly enrolled to vote.

Almost 100,000 Aucklanders are not enrolled to vote in the upcoming local Auckland Council elections – making up four out of every ten people in New Zealand not enrolled.

Auckland Council Electoral Officer Dale Ofsoske says while it is disappointing that Auckland is one of the worst enrolled cities in the country, there is now a chance to do something about it.

“Aucklanders want to be able to vote. But to do so, we need to check that everyone in our households receive an enrolment update pack in the mail this week – and if anyone doesn’t, to ensure those people get enrolled.

“There is a lot of change going on in Auckland and that’s generating strong interest in the upcoming elections.

“But interest won’t make any difference if people aren’t enrolled. Only those enrolled to vote will get their voting pack sent to them in the mail,” says Mr Ofsoske.

“There are around 100,000 potential voters out there that won’t be sent a vote because they aren’t enrolled.  Your vote could affect the whole of Auckland, so make sure it counts.”

Everyone enrolled to vote will be sent an enrolment update pack in the mail this week. Anyone who doesn’t get one by Thursday (8 July) isn’t enrolled and they need to enrol or update their details.

Enrolment forms are available from the elections website www.elections.org.nz, by free texting your name and address to 3676, from any PostShop or by calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56).  You can also check your details and enrol online at the website.

The local elections will be held by postal vote from 19 September until midday Saturday 9 October.

There will be a number of Mayoral Candidate Forums held over the next four months and it is imperative that probing questions on arts funding, policies and development are asked, answered and reported on.

The nominations for Auckland’s local body elections officially open on July 23 with elections just four months away.  Check back here for regular updates on issues relating to the arts and details on attending Mayoral Candidate Forums.  If you would like to post your views, questions or concerns regarding the representation of the arts and culture sector in the 2010 mayoral elections you can do so by sending the contact form, available by clicking here.

In the NZ Herald on June 9, Minister of Local Government, Rodney Hide, sought and received permission to review the Local Government Act, with a view to removing Councils’ responsibility for cultural, social and environmental well being. Many groups occupy council-owned facilities and receive council funding to provide their services and this review raised concern about the future of local resources; was it “the prelude to corporatisation of local government, and privatisation of local assets?”

Currently the community infrastructure throughout the Auckland region receives significant support from their local councils. This infrastructure includes organisations that occupy council owned buildings, or who receive operational grants that allow for the provision of services to the arts community. Then there are those who receive project funding or other resources which facilitate activities, events or services that enhance community. This support strengthens and enhances the community sector, provides opportunities, and includes a diverse range of practitioners, groups, organisations and audiences. The loss of this key support by councils could result in a sizeable reduction in services provided by both core and smaller centres and networks.

Phil Twyford’s Bill protects Auckland’s local government assets by requiring a referendum under the Local Electoral Act 2001 before sale or privatisation.  The Bill would outlaw the sale of a range of assets including parks, swimming pools, libraries and public housing – other than when a sale might be part of the normal day-to-day portfolio management and has been subject to the normal consultation.

Here is the PDF of the Bill

To be directed to the Local Government (Auckland Reorganisation) Bill, Click Here

Here is the overview of the legislation, for quicker reading

Creating a Super City: Auckland Council Legislation (421)

Here is an excellent advisory document from Parliament called ‘Making a Submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee’
Making a Submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee (218)
Here is an example of a submission that the Waitakere Community  Coalition have drafted…
Waitakere Community Coalition Submission (draft) (229)
And here is a mock submission by the Labour Party
Labour Party Mock Submission (236)
Post your submission to:
Auckland Governance Legislation Committee
Committee Secretariat,
Auckland Governance Legislation,
Parliament Buildings,
Wellington.

Email your submission to:

AGL@parliament.govt.nz